MK Dons Chasing Barnsley Striker

League Two outfit MK Dons are chasing the signature of Barnsley striker Stephen Humphrys, according to Football League World. 

MK Dons are looking to push on from a disappointing 19th-placed finish in the fourth tier next season under new manager Paul Warne.

Warne and his staff have been busy in this window so far, bringing in three players, and are linked with many more as pre-season looms.

MK Dons Showing their Financial Strength

The club have already brought in former Derby County winger Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, former Bolton Wanderers centre-back Gethin Jones and former Crawley Town striker Rushian Hepburn-Murphy.

The club have been heavily linked with Bolton striker Aaron Collins, who is believed to be moving to Stadium MK for a fee in excess of £850,000, as well as Stockport County midfielder Will Collar, who they have offered a contract to, reportedly.

The latest player the Dons are linked to is 27-year-old Humphreys, who spent the last season at Oakwell, scoring nine goals in 37 League One appearances.

His future at the Tykes remains unclear, with his one-year contract ending in July; however, Barnsley have offered the striker a new contract, and also have an option for a one-year extension.

However, if MK Dons can prize Humphrys away from the League One outfit, it would certainly flex their financial muscle once more.

Humphrey’s Career So Far

The 27-year-old spent time in both the Bury and Fulham youth academies, experiencing loan spells at the likes of Shrewsbury Town, Rochdale and Scunthorpe United, before joining Southend United permanently in 2019.

Humphrey’s time at Southend didn’t last long; however, with the striker moving back to Rochdale on a permanent deal just six months later. He spent another year at the Dale, scoring 11 goals in 29 third-tier games, before joining Wigan Athletic, where he spent the next three years of his career. He experienced a loan spell at Scottish Premiership side Hearts of Midlothian during his time in Lancashire.

At Hearts, he scored five times in 25 appearances in all competitions. With the Latics, he scored 18 goals and provided another six assists in 98 games.

Barnsley picked him up for free last summer, but he now faces a big decision on whether or not to stay at Oakwell or move down a division to join the ambitious MK Dons, who will no doubt have offered a big contract.

Writer’s View

It seems like MK Dons are building a League Two superteam, with significant financial backing from the new Kuwait owner, Fahad Al Ghanim. Not only have they hired a manager who has managed in higher divisions in recent times, but they’ve also seemingly given him a budget to reshape and build the side how he wishes.

Humphreys would be another shrewd pick-up for the League Two outfit, and would further strengthen MK Dons’ front-line. Meanwhile, if Barnsley were to lose the 27-year-old, it would be another big blow, with their squad looking increasingly thin, with no sign of any transfer business happening anytime soon, with the club already missing out on key targets.